Senecio plant named ‘PURPLE CHAIN’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Senecio  plant named ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ that is characterized by purple stems and green succulent leaves that have an elongated cylindrical shape.

Botanical classification: Senecio herreanus.

Variety denomination: ‘PURPLE CHAIN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Senecioplant botanically known as Senecio herreanus and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘PURPLE CHAIN’.

‘PURPLE CHAIN’ originated from the crossing of the female or seedparent, an unnamed proprietary Senecio herreanus cultivar and the maleor pollen parent, an unnamed proprietary Senecio herreanus cultivar. Thecrossing was conducted in 2013 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. The resultingseeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘PURPLE CHAIN’was selected by the inventor in 2014 in a controlled environment as asingle plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivated areaof Sappemeer, Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ first occurredby leaf cuttings in 2014 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. Since that time,under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newSenecio cultivar ‘PURPLE CHAIN’. These traits in combination distinguish‘PURPLE CHAIN’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingvarieties of Senecio known by the inventor.

-   1. Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ exhibits purple stems.-   2. Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ exhibits green succulent leaves that have    an elongated cylindrical shape.

Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ can be compared to plants of the Seneciorowleyanus species and to plants of the Senecio radicans species.‘PURPLE CHAIN’ is distinguishable from plants of the Senecio rowleyanusspecies by the following characteristics:

-   1. Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ exhibits purple stems. In comparison, the    stems of plants of the Senecio rowleyanus species are light green.-   2. Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ exhibits leaves that have an elongated    cylindrical shape. In comparison, the leaves of plants of the    Senecio rowleyanus species are spherical in shape.

‘PURPLE CHAIN’ is distinguishable from plants of the Senecio radicansspecies by the following characteristics:

-   1. Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ exhibits purple stems. In comparison, the    stems of plants of the Senecio radicans species are dark green.-   2. Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ exhibits leaves that have an elongated    cylindrical shape. In comparison, the leaves of plants of the    Senecio radicans species are curved with a bannna-like shape.

‘PURPLE CHAIN’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

-   1. Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ exhibits purple stems. In comparison, the    stems of the female parent plant are lighter purple in color.

‘PURPLE CHAIN’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

-   1. Senecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ exhibits purple stems. In comparison, the    stems of the male parent plant are lighter purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofSenecio ‘PURPLE CHAIN’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 20week old plant.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Senecio cultivarnamed ‘PURPLE CHAIN’. Data was collected in Sappemeer, Netherlands from20 week old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 10.5 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was Summer and the temperature range was18-25 degrees Centigrade during the day and 15-18 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retardants were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ has not been tested under all possibleconditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without anyvariance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Senecio herreanus ‘PURPLE CHAIN’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ resulted from the crossing of the female    or seed parent, an unnamed proprietary Senecio herreanus cultivar    and the male or pollen parent, an unnamed proprietary Senecio    herreanus cultivar.-   Plant type: Pot plant.-   Plant shape: Prostrate.-   Growth habit: Creeping.-   Suitable container size: 7 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height: 5.5 cm.-   Plant width: 23.4 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Low temperature tolerance: 0° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 40° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 14 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 21 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: Leaf cuttings are placed directly    into growing container.-   Crop time: Approximately 20 weeks in Sappemeer, Netherlands.-   Root system: Dense and fine.-   Root color: N155.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Pinching: Not required.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Main stems with lateral branches.        -   Basal branching.—Yes.        -   Number of main stems per plant.—Average 11.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—Average 22.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—8.3 cm. in length and 0.2 cm. in            width.        -   Internode length.—0.5 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth.        -   Stem pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem angle.—Average 80 degrees from vertical.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color (young).—N79D.        -   Stem color (mature).—N79B, older main stems N187C and 200C.        -   Internode color.—N79B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 8.        -   Leaf shape.—Obovate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Circular in diameter.        -   Leaf apex.—Short apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—1.8 cm. in length and 0.55 cm. in width.        -   Leaf thickness.—0.55 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous both surfaces, slightly velvety,            succulent.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf luster.—Matte both surfaces.        -   Leaf rugosity.—Non-rugose.        -   Leaf margin.—None, leaves circular in diameter.        -   Venation pattern.—None visible.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—137C, base 138B to 138C.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—137C, base 138B to 138C.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—In between N189A and            202B.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—189A.-   Petiole:    -   -   Petiole dimensions.—0.5 cm. in length and 0.2 cm. in            diameter.        -   Petiole texture.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Petiole pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole strength.—Moderate.        -   Petiole color (upper surface).—187B.        -   Petiole color (lower surface).—N79D.-   Flower: ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ has not produced fruit or seed to    date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Senecio plantnamed ‘PURPLE CHAIN’ as described and illustrated.